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Ryanair’s CEO has criticized the National Public Health Emergency Team, saying it got it wrong in nursing homes, meat factories and face covers, and also on international travel during the summer.
Eddie Wilson made his comments to the Oireachtas Transportation Committee today, adding that the “strangulation” of the aviation industry continues.
Mr. Wilson said that the Green List has been a disaster and called on the government to implement the EU traffic light system immediately.
He said Ireland has isolated itself from the EU, adding that people in Germany, France, Sweden, Belgium and Spain can travel anywhere within the EU.
There is no data to suggest that air travel is unsafe, he told the committee.
Ryanair’s chief executive also said he found it “extraordinary” that neither Transport Minister Eamon Ryan nor Hildegarde Naughton, the Minister of State for Road and International Transport and Logistics, had contacted Ryanair since their last appearance before the committee on October 7.
He said the closure of the airline’s bases in Cork and Shannon could have been downplayed and said the question now is whether they will reopen.
Also appearing on the committee today was Donal Moriarty, Aer Lingus’ director of corporate affairs and its interim CEO.
Moriarty said it is clear from the evidence that international travel is not a vector for Covid-19.
He said any required pre-departure testing for passengers should be quick and affordable, adding that only a rapid antigen test will facilitate a significant increase in safe international travel.
The Aer Lingus executive said that several airports in Europe are introducing antigen testing and it is clear that they are becoming prevalent in the solution to facilitate international travel.
Eddie Wilson said the government’s official policy since March has been to tell its citizens not to fly.
He said the government has put “an anchor around the neck of the airlines,” resulting in Ryanair closing its bases in Cork and Shannon for the winter.
The government was “fooling around,” said the CEO of Ryanair.
Donal Moriarty said that travel-related “toxicity” must be eliminated. He said the narrative has been largely delivered by government policy and that has to change.
He was challenged by Sinn Féin’s Darren O’Rourke after the Aer Lingus executive cited a report that said the chances of contracting Covid-19 from flying were one in 27 million.
Rep. O’Rourke said the same report also says there is no way to establish an exact count of possible cases associated with flights.
He said the one in 27 million figure was “incredible and not based on solid science.” He said the role the aviation sector plays in spreading the virus must be recognized.
The ‘stoplight’ system to coordinate international Covid-19 travel restrictions across the continent will arrive here starting November 8.
But both Ryanair and Aer Lingus said the new system will not be a panacea.
Eddie Wilson said that even with the new system in place, there is a reasonable chance that Cork and Shannon will not reopen because he said the exact details of the plan are not yet known.
Donal Moriarty said Aer Lingus’ plan was to restart Shannon at Heathrow in December, but that it will not continue now.
He said the route together with Shannon-Boston, and Shannon-JFK is now expected to resume in April, but said that depends on a significant reduction in restrictions.
Shannon Airport CEO said today’s Ryanair announcement is truly disappointing.
Mary Considine said it was discouraging for airport employees who have worked hard to keep it operational during the pandemic.
He said there is now genuine concern among companies about the future of the airport.
Also speaking in front of the Oireachtas Transportation Committee, he said that the news was also a great disappointment for his loyal customers.
He said it shows how critical the situation has become and how vulnerable the aviation sector is.
She said it also shows the need for urgent financial assistance.
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